Agreement on Building Electricity Bridge between Lithuania and Poland Signed in Warsaw

2008.02.12

Tuesday, February12, Warsaw – Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus and President Lech Kaczynski of Poland participated in the ceremony of signing an agreement on building an electricity bridge between Lithuania and Poland.

Polish and Lithuanian electricity companies signed an agreement providing for the establishment of a joint venture which would build a power link between Elk (Poland) and Alytus (Lithuania) to connect the electricity grids of the two countries. The project amounts to a total sum of 230 million euros. Up to 75 percent of the project’s worth will be covered from EU funds.

President Adamkus underlined that this meeting was greatly important and exceptional because an agreement to build a power bridge had been finally signed after prolonged negotiations.

“I am very glad about this project because a new link will enable us to resolve one of the problems that we are facing now: energy security. The project will also be important to Latvia and Estonia since it will include them into the Western energy system,” Mr. Adamkus said.

He further noted that this agreement would pave the ground for the creation of an infrastructural energy network from Scandinavia to Western Europe.

“Lithuania and Poland are two countries which have opened a new page in European relations, focusing not only on the benefits to be gained by our people, but also on ensuring energy stability in the East,” Mr. Adamkus said.

“Perhaps today we are yet unable to adequately assess the value of this agreement, but I do not doubt that it will contribute to our energy independence which we have been striving for since re-independence,” Mr. Adamkus said.

“This project will further enhance the relationship between our two countries and it will benefit the whole of the region,” Mr. Kaczynski said.

He reiterated Poland’s plans to participate in the construction of a new nuclear power plant in Ignalina.

Now that Lithuania has decided to build a new nuclear power station, Poland will be able to purchase electricity from Lithuania.